Former Ghana defender Sam Johnson has urged the national team to prioritize local players for the remaining 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

With qualification hopes uncertain, Johnson believes this is a valuable opportunity to involve Ghana-based players and boost their exposure to high-level continental football.

The Black Stars are set to face Angola in Luanda before hosting Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium. Johnson, a former player for Hearts of Oak and Fenerbahçe, emphasized that giving home-based players a chance would build their confidence and readiness for future international tournaments.

“I really want the local guys to go and play in these last AFCON matches,” Johnson told *Graphic Sports*. “We could bring in local players and add a few foreign-based ones to give them exposure. It will help build their confidence and morale.”

However, Johnson expressed reservations about the quality of players in the Ghana Premier League, noting that the current standard poses a challenge in identifying suitable talent for the national team.

He acknowledged that the league's declining performance might affect the national team’s prospects.

“The question is, which of these players would you invite? Based on what I’ve seen, I’m not confident. Our league’s standard is low, and you can’t call up these players if we want to avoid heavy losses,” he remarked.

Johnson also highlighted the low attendance in local league matches, even among traditionally strong fan bases like Hearts of Oak, attributing it to declining performance standards.

“With the local league, people aren’t motivated to watch. Even Hearts of Oak supporters aren’t attending matches. When was the last time you saw Accra Sports Stadium full, apart from Black Stars games?” he questioned.

Otto Addo, Ghana's head coach, is expected to announce the squad for the qualifiers this week.

The Black Stars currently sit in third place in Group F with only two points from four games, trailing Angola and Sudan.

The team’s hopes rest on the possibility of Sudan losing their remaining matches to keep Ghana’s qualification hopes alive.